Fellow scribes, check out this enlightening “Q & A” with author and writing teacher Mark David Gerson. He wrote The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write - and here, he shares a few writing tips.
First, here’s one of Gerson’s favorite life and writing quips:
“It is good to have an end to journey [...]

I just signed on with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in NYC, and though nobody knows what the future holds, I’m thrilled to reach this milestone in my writing career! It took me three weeks to find an agent - and here are the steps I took.
First, though, I gotta share a quip I found [...]

Okay, this list of the best holiday and other gifts for writers does not include books! Instead, it’s a round up of ideas for the writer in your life - whether you’re married to an unpublished poet or celebrating her 52nd week on the New York Times bestseller list!
First, a quip from William Zinsser:
“There’s not [...]

In Writer’s Market 2009, there’s a great “Query Letter Clinic” (an article) that describes how to write a query letter for a magazine. I’ve summarized the main points below, and included a sample of a good nonfiction magazine query.
But first, fellow scribes:
“Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of [...]

Stephen King’s book On Writing was really difficult for him to write - and the first half was difficult for me to read. Nevertheless, I’ve pulled seven writing quips and tips from his book - and I know there’s more!
First, a quip from the King of Horror:
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two [...]

You need more than talent and good ideas to be a writer. To persevere after constant rejections and keep pitching into the editorial abyss, you need personality traits that go beyond talent and creativity. I’ve rounded up a few qualities of successful writers - and they apply to freelancers, hobbyists, bloggers, or published authors.
First, I gotta throw in a quip from Anne [...]

While there’s no “winning formula” to writing excellent query letters, it is good to see how published freelance writers pitch their ideas. So, here’s a query letter I sent to MSN Health, which they accepted a couple days later.
“The most effective query letters get into the specifics from the very first line,” write the experts [...]

One of my friends - who is also a writer - asked what sacrifices I’ve made as a full-time freelance writer. My immediate reaction was, “Sacrifices? What sacrifices? I love writing - I’ve made no sacrifices! Are you insane??!!”
But I was wrong. There are sacrifices to a freelance writing career.
For instance, check out this poem [...]

The panels of professional writers, agents, and editors were one of the best parts of the Surrey International Writer’s Conference. I love panels because they give you a great cross-section of experience and opinions. Here’s what I learned from one of the writers’ panels at this conference, in a Q & A format.
First, a quip from [...]

If I could attend a writing conference (or a conference for entrepreneurs) every month, I’d be one happy woman! Here’s what I learned in my three days at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference in October, 2008.
First, a quip from best-selling author Mary Jo Putney: “Writers are introverted and insecure.”
I’m a little insulted by that. I [...]